Vehicle door latch



April 12, 1955 J cRAlG 2,705,884

VEHICLE DOOR LATCH Filed Dec. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o F zgui 4 n 42 T4 12 I I0 I 2 INVEN TOR.

United States Patent VEHICLE DOOR LATCH Burnie J. Craig, Los Angeles County, Calif.

Application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,283

18 Claims. (Cl. 70-264) This invention relates to a vehicle door latch.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle door latch by means of which one or more of the doors of a motor vehicle may be held securely in locked position.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel coincidental door locking system for locking a plurality of doors wherein novel lock members are employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coincidental door locking system wherein the coincidental locking member is mounted on the pivoted locking element of a latch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door latch wherein a release member is movable to locked and unlocked position by operating a lock member and wherein novel means is provided by means of which closing of the door will either unlock the door if the parts are locked or permit the door to remain locked if it is closed while the parts are locked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel latch bolt releasing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel handle assembly for door locks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel handle assembly including bolt releasing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel push button operated door lock.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, looking towards the arrow 1 in Fig. 4, partly in section, showing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, looking towards the arrow 2 in Fig. 4, and showing the opposite sides of the door latch;

Fig. 3 is a section showing the locking arm and taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing the door lock and associated door and pillar;

Fig. 6 is a section in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, showing the end of the lock member;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the handle assembly;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, isometric view showing lock details;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing a modification, and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the modification.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the invention is shown as embodied in a vehicle door latch which is indicated generally at 10. As shown the latch includes a body 11, adapted to be secured to a vehicle door 12. The body 11 includes a flange 13.

The body 11 supports a rotatable shaft 14 which, on the outer face of the end member, has a bolt 15 fixed thereon and at the inner face has a ratchet member 16 fixed thereon.

The rotary bolt 15 extends through an aperture in the door 12 and coacts with a strike member 17 which has teeth 18 thereon and 17 is secured to the door pillar 19 by fastening members 20. The rotary bolt includes teeth 21 which engage the teeth 18.

The ratchet 16 is adapted to be engaged by an ear 22 on a dog 23 which is shown as pivoted at 24 to the body 11. The dog is engaged by a spring 25 mounted on a 2,705,884 Patented Apr. 12, 1955 ice fastening member 26. The dog is thus normally urged to engaged position.

The dog 23 is shown as adapted to be rocked by an arm 28 which engages an ear 28' on a dog 23. The arm 28 is fixed on a shaft 29 which latter is adapted to be rocked by a crank 30 which is adapted to be actuated by a remote control member on the inside of a door. The remote control member may be similar to the remote control member shown in Craig patent 2,450,372, granted September 28, 1948.

The dog 23 also includes an upwardly extending raised arm 31 which has a tongue 32 extending therefrom. The tongue is normally disposed in a slot 33 in an actuating member 34, which latter is shown as mounted on a release member 35 by means of a pivot pin 35'.

The release member 35 is mounted on a handle assembly 36 which includes a body 37 having a reduced portion 37 which passes through a hole in the door and is held in place by a slip plate 37*. The body includes a handle 37 and has a chamber 38 in which tumblers 39 are arranged. The construction includes a closure 40 which is non-rotatable and which supports a non-rotatable sleeve 41. The tumblers 39 are rotated in sequence in the usual manner by a dial member 42 which has a key 43 fitting in a keyway 44 in one of the tumblers 39. A spring 45 normally urges the dial 42 outwardly.

Within the sleeve 41 a lock barrel 46 slides. The lock barrel 46 includes a push button portion 47 which projects for finger-tip operation. A spring 48 engages a flange 52 on the lock barrel to normally urge the push button outwardly. The lock barrel includes a ball clutch 49 which, while allowing the push member to move axially, prevents rotation of the push button. When the tumblers 39 are codified the ball will be released to permit rotation of the lock barrel 46. Details of the ball clutch and the tumbler lock are fully disclosed and claimed in applicants co-pending application Ser. No. 185,411, filed September 18, 1950, now Patent No. 2,687,032, issued Aug. 24, 1954, and a further description of the clutching arrangement is deemed unnecessary.

The lock barrel supports a core 50 which is rotatable in the barrel when a proper key 51 is inserted and rotated. The flange 52 provides an annular recess 53 in which a U-shaped end 54 on the release arm 55 is arranged. The arm 55 extends perpendicular to the U-shaped end 54 and extends through a slot 56 in the closure 40.

The slot 56 is only slightly larger in cross section than the cross section of the release arm 55 so that the arm 55 is limited to move linearly parallel to the axis of the lock barrel and when the push button is pushed inwardly the arm 55 will move in and will move outwardly when the spring 48 returns the push button.

The release arm 55 is rigidly connected to the release member 35 by tongues 57 which are integral with the release member 35 and which pass through holes 56' in the arm 55. Thus it will be seen that the release member 35 will move in and out with the push button but that this member will not rotate with the lock barrel 46 nor with the dial member 42.

A slot 57' in the release member 35 receives a guide pin 58 on the base 11 to guide the free end of the release member.

The construction is such that when the push button 47 is pushed inwardly the release member 35 will be pushed inwardly and will carry forward the pivot 35' on the actuating member and will move the actuating member to the right in Fig. 1. This will cause the wall portion 60 of the slot 33 to engage the tongue 32 on the dog arm 31. This will rock the dog to free the ratchet 16 and allow the bolt 15 to rotate so that the door may be opened.

The actuating member 34 may be moved from the unlocked position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 to the locked position shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 and in order to do this the flange 13 carries a pivot pin which pivotally supports a locking arm 66. The flange includes a snap over spring 67 which holds the locking arm 66 against a lower stop 68 when the door is locked and against a stop 69 when the door is unlocked. The locking arm 66 may be shifted by a rod 70 which is attached thereto and which has an upper finger engaging portion 71 which is accessible from within the vehicle. The actuating member 34 has a tongue 72 at its free end. The tongue 72 fits in a slot 73 in a U-shaped portion 74 on the locking member.

When the finger member 71 is pushed downwardly the actuating member tongue 72 will move the actuating member 34 from unlocked to locked position and when the finger member 71 is raised the actuating member will be raised from locked to unlocked position.

Also, the actuating member 34 may be shifted from locked to unlocked position and vice versa by means of an arm 75 which is mounted on the core of the lock barrel. The arm operates in a slot 75' in the actuating member 34. As shown in Fig. 7, the arm is mounted as a crank member on a head 76 carried on the rod 77 which is mounted on and rotates with the lock core 50. The rod 77 passes through a hole 78 in a tongue 79 bent from the release member 35.

The construction is such that when the proper key 51 is inserted it will rock the core 50, thus rocking the pin 75 and moving the actuating member 34 upwardly or downwardly depending on which direction the key is turned.

Also, the rod 77 may be rotated by codifying the tumblers 39 and pushing in on the dial 42 to free the ball clutch 49. This will permit the push button 47 to turn independently of, and without use of, the key 51.

Thus it will be seen that an operator may either lock or unlock the vehicle from without the vehicle by operating the finger member 71 or may lock or unlock the door from without the vehicle by means of the key 51 or the dial member 42.

To prevent the operator from locking himself out of the vehicle when the door is closed while the actuating member 34 is in locked position, the actuating member is provided with a cam 80 which, when the actuating member is locked, is disposed (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) adjacent to a portion 81 on the dog 23. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the actuating member 34 is in this locked position and the door is closed the ratchet 16 will be rotated, thus lifting the dog in Fig. 1 and causing the portion 81 to move upwardly and forwardly to thus lift the actuating member 34 to unlocked position.

If, however, the operator desires to lock the vehicle he may push down on the finger member 71, thus placing the actuating member in locked position and then as the door is closed, he will push inwardly on the push button 47. In doing this he will move the cam portion 80 forwardly in Fig. 1 so that when the part 81 is raised due to rocking of the dog 23 there will be no engagement of the part 80 with the part 81 and thus the cam 80 will be undisturbed and the actuating member will remain in locked position.

The strike 17 coacts with a wedge member 85 which preferably consists of a stamping and is fully described in applicants copending application Ser. No. 201,281, filed December 18, 1950.

The bottom of the wedge member 85 engages a dovetail wedge 86 which has a plane lower face 87 slidably engaging a similar face 88 on the strike. A spring 89 normally urges the wedge member to the right in Fig. 2 towards the shoulder 89 on the strike. The wedge member is more fully described in the copending application mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

In order to provide for coincidental locking of the several doors of a vehicle the locking arm 66 is provided with a shaft member 90 which may be secured thereon as by welding at 91. The shaft member projects through a slot 92 in the base 11 and in the end of the door and at its outer end supports a roller 93. The construction is such that when the locking member 66 is moved up or down the roller 93 will be moved up or down.

To provide coincidental locking of doors on the same side of the vehicle and on opposite sides of the vehicle, the pillars 19 are provided with a coincidental locking control member which has upper and lower wings 101 and 102 at each end. The control member includes a body 104 from which a pair of tongues 105 extend through a slot 106 in the pillar and are accessible from within the vehicle for movement up and down to effect the locking and unlocking action.

The body 104 includes tongues 108 from which the wings 101 and 102, previously mentioned, are bent. The control member 100 is mounted on a shaft 110 which is supported in brackets 111 removably secured to the inside of the pillar as by suitable screws 112.

The wings with the integral connecting body 104 serve to coincidentally lock adjacent doors. Doors on opposite sides of the vehicle may be coincidentally locked as by a Bowden wire 113 which is suitably secured to the control members 100. To cause simultaneous action one end of the Bowden wire is coupled to the top portion of the control member 100 at the upper left hand portion of Fig. 5. The other end of the Bowden wire is connected to the bottom portion of the other control member. Thus control members on opposite sides of the vehicle both simultaneously move in the same direction.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the inside remote control rod 29 is omitted. The dog car 28' is extended as at 28" and is engaged by an arm 120, which is pivoted at 121 to the flange 13. The arm is rocked by an integral arm 122 which is connected by a rod 123 to an inside remote control handle (not shown). When the rod 123 is pulled to the right in Fig. 9 the arm 120 will rock the ear 28" on the dog to bolt releasing position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a door lock, a bolt movable to engaged position against a strike, a dog normally preventing movement of the bolt to disengaged position, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, an actuating member, pivotal mounting means on the release member supporting the actuating member for bodily movement with the release member and for swinging movement from locked to unlocked position independent of the release member, lock operated means for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the release member is operated when the actuating member is in unlocked position, said last men tioned means being inefiective to rock the dog when the door is closed While the release member is operated while the actuating member is in locked position, and manually operable means operable to move the actuating member from locked to unlocked position and vice versa.

2. In a door lock, a bolt movable to engaged position against a strike, a dog normally preventing movement of the bolt to disengaged position, a release member slidably mounted for reciprocating action, an actuating member, pivotal mounting means on the release member supporting the actuating member for bodily movement with the release member and for swinging movement from locked to unlocked position independent of the release member, lock operated means for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the actuating member is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineffective to rock the dog when the actuating member is in locked position, and a manually operable locking arm operable to move said actuating member from locked to unlocked position and vice versa.

3. In an automotive vehicle door latch, a rotary bolt movable to engaged and released positions, a push button member operable to release the bolt, an actuating member, pivotal mounting means on the push button member supporting the actuating member for bodily movement with the push button member and for swinging movement to either of two positions independent of the push button member, and means to release the bolt when the push button member is operated while the actuating member is moved in one direction while turned to one position about its pivot, the last means being ineffective to release the bolt when the member is similarly moved while it is turned to another position about its pivot, and key operated lock controlled means accessible from without the vehicle for moving the actuating member to the other position.

4. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a rotary bolt on the base, said bolt having a ratchet thereon, a dog normally engaging the ratchet to pre vent rotation of the ratchet and bolt, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, means for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the actuating member is operated while it is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineffective to rock the dog when the actuating member is operated while it is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member having a tongue engaging said locking arm, said locking arm being movable from locked to unlocked position, and means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position.

5. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a rotary bolt on the base, said bolt having a ratchet thereon, a dog normally engaging the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet and bolt, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member, a lock barrel on the release member, means normally pre venting rotation of the lock barrel, means for releasing said preventing means, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, means carried by said lock barrel for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the actuating mem ber is operated while it is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineffective to rock the dog when the actuating member is operated while it is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member having a tongue engaging said locking arm, said locking arm being movable from locked to unlocked position, and means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position.

6. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a rotary bolt on the base, said bolt having a ratchet thereon, a dog normally engaging the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet and bolt, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member, a lock barrel on the release member, means normally preventing rotation of the lock barrel, means for releasing said preventingmeans, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, means carried by said lock barrel for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the release member is moved to releasing position while the actuating member is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineffective to rock the dog when the actuating member is operated While it is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member having a tongue engaging said locking arm, said locking arm being movable from locked to unlocked position, and means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position.

7. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a rotary bolt on the base, said bolt having a ratchet thereon, a dog normally engaging the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet and bolt, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member, a lock barrel on the release member, means normally preventing rotation of the lock barrel, means for releasing said preventing means, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, means carried by said lock barrel for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the actuating member is operated while it is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineifective to rock the dog when the actuating member is operated while it is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member having a tongue engaging said locking arm, said locking arm being movable from locked to unlocked position, means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position and coacting means on said actuating member and said dog effective when the actuating member is in locked position and the dog is moved by the ratchet to restore the actuating member to unlocked condition, the coacting means being ineffective when the actuating member is in locked position and the release member is in release position to restore the actuating member to unlocked condition when the ratchet is rotated.

8. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a rotary bolt on the base, said bolt having a ratchet thereon, a dog normally engaging the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet and bolt, a handle member adapted to be secured to a vehicle door, said handle member including a push member, a release member carried by the push member for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member, a lock barrel on said push member, means normally preventing rotation of the barrel, means for releasing said preventing means, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, means carried by said lock barrel for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, means on said actuating member for rocking the dog when the release member is moved to releasing position while the actuating member is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineffective to rock the dog when the actuating member is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member having a tongue engaging said locking arm, said locking arm being movable from locked to unlocked position, means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position and coacting means on said actuating member and said dog effective when the actuating member is in locked position and the dog is moved by the ratchet to restore the actuating member to unlocked condition, the coacting means being ineffective when the actuating member is in locked position and the release member is in release position to restore the actuating member to unlocked condition when the ratchet is rotated.

9. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a rotary bolt on the base, said bolt having a ratchet thereon, a dog normally engaging the ratchet to prevent rotation of the ratchet and bolt, a handle member adapted to be secured to a vehicle door, said handle member including a push member, a release member carried by the push member for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member, a lock barrel on the 'push member, means normally preventing rotation of the barrel, means for releasing said preventing means, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, means carried by said lock barrel for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions, an arm on said dog having a tongue engaging the actuating member when the actuating member is in unlocked position, said tongue being out of engagement with the actuating member when the actuating member is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member having a tongue engaging said locking arm, said locking arm being movable from locked to unlocked position, means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position and coacting means on said actuating member and said dog effective when the actuating member is in locked position and the dog is moved by the ratchet to restore the actuating member to unlocked condition, the coacting means being ineffective when the actuating member is in locked position and the release member is in release position to restore the actuating member to unlocked condition when the ratchet is rotated.

10. In a door lock, a base having a flange thereon, a bolt on the base, a dog normally preventing release of the bolt, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an actuating member operated by said release member, said actuating member being movable to locked and unlocked positions, means on said actuating member for releasing the dog when the release member is moved to releasing position while the actuating member is in unlocked position, said last mentioned means being ineffective to rock the dog when the actuating member is in locked position, a locking arm pivotally mounted on said flange, said actuating member and said locking arm having coacting parts so that they are together movable from locked to unlocked position, means to hold said locking arm in locked or unlocked position, and a locking member mounted on said locking arm and projecting beyond said base and adapted to engage locking means on a vehicle.

11. A vehicle door handle assembly including a handle member having a body and a grip portion, a push button member slidable in the body, a release member mounted in the body engaging the push button member for reciprocation therewith, a bolt releasing actuating member pivotally mounted on the release member for reciprocation with the release member and for pivotal movement about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the push button member from locked to unlocked position and vice versa and means to hold the actuating member in locked or unlocked positions.

12. A vehicle door handle assembly including a handle member having a body and a grip portion, a push button member slidable on the body, a bolt releasing actuating member movably mounted on the push button member for reciprocation with the push button member and for movement about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the push button member from locked to un locked position and vice versa, means to hold the actuating member in locked or unlocked positions and means on the push button member adapted to shift the actuating member from locked to unlocked position,

13. A handle assembly including a handle member having a body and a grip portion adapted to be secured to a vehicle door, said handle member including a push member, a release member carried by the push member for reciprocating action, means normally urging the release member to non-releasing position, an I actuating member pivotally mounted on said release member for movement about an axis which is transverse to the axis of the push member, said actuating member being movable from locked to unlocked position, and means for moving the actuating member to either of its two positions.

14. In a vehicle door handle assembly, a body having a handle thereon, said body having a bore, a lock barrel rotatable and reciprocable in the bore, means normally preventing rotation of the lock barrel in the bore and operable to permit rotation of the lock barrel in the bore, a support arm mounted to reciprocate with the lock barrel and extending therefrom, an actuating arm, means to mount said actuating arm on said support arm for rotation about an axis transverse to the axis of the bore, releasable means to hold said actuating arm in either of two positions, and means carried by said lock barrel and rotatable therewith to rock said actuating arm to either of its two positions.

15. In a door lock, a bolt movable to engaged position against a strike, means normaiiy holding the bolt in engaged position, a release member mounted for reciprocating action, an actuating member, pivotal mounting means on the release member supporting the actuating member for bodily movement with the release member and for swinging movement from locked to unlocked position independent of the release member, lock operated means for moving the actuating member from locked to unlocked position, means on said actuating member for releasing the bolt when the release member is in unlocked position, said last means being ineffective to release the bolt when the door is closed and the release member is operated while the actuating member is in locked position, and manually operated means operable to move the actuating member from locked to unlocked position and vice versa.

16. In a door lock, a base having a flange arranged at right angles thereto, a bolt pivoted on the base, a ratchet coaxial with the bolt pivot, bolt holding and releasing means engaging the ratchet for holding the bolt in engagement with a strike, a movably mounted release member, an actuating member, pivotal means supporting the actuating member on the release membe'r, the actuating member being movable to and from a locked position, the actuating member also being movable with the release member in a bolt releasing path, said holding and releasing means including an arm which has a tongue thereon, said tongue being disposed out of the path of a shoulder on the actuating member when the actuating member is in its locked position, said tongue being disposed adjacent to and in the path of said actuating shoulder when the actuating member is in unlocked position for movement by the release member to bolt releasing position, a pivot pin on said flange, a locking arm pivotally supported by the pivot pin, said locking arm including a portion engageable with upper and lower stop portions on the flange to limit movement of the locking arm in each direction, a snap-over spring engaging the locking arm and the flange to hold the locking arm in either locking or in unlocking position, means including a shifting member which has an upper finger engaging portion accessible from within the vehicle for moving the locking arm from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, the actuating member having a tongue fitting in a slot on the locking arm for moving the locking arm to and from locked position, said actuating member being eflfective to free the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position and said actuating member being ineffective to release the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in locked position, said holding and releasing means including an car, a pivoted arm engaging said ear, remote control means within the vehicle for rocking the last mentioned arm to move the holding and releasing means to bolt releasing position, said actuating member including a shoulder facing towards the ratchet and engageable with a portion of the holding and releasing means which faces away from the ratchet when the actuating member is in non-bolt releasing position and operable when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to restore the actuating member to unlocked position, said shoulder being disposed so that it is out of the path of the holding and releasing means portion which faces away from the ratchet and is inoperable, when the actuating member is in locked position and is held in bolt releasing position, when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to move the actuating member to unlocked position.

17. In a door lock, a base having a flange arranged at right angles thereto, a bolt pivoted on the base, a ratchet coaxial with the bolt pivot, bolt holding and releasing means engaging the ratchet for holding the bolt in engagement with a strike, a movably mounted release member, an actuating member, pivotal means supporting the actuating member on the release member, the actuating member being movable in a path to and from a locked position, the actuating member also being movable with the release member in a bolt releasing path, said actuating member being movable at all times in the bolt releasing path regardless of Whether it is disposed in locked or unlocked position in the locking path, said holding and releasing means having an upwardly raised arm which has a terminal tongue extending inwardly therefrom, said tongue being normally disposed out of the path of a shoulder on the actuating member, said shoulder being movable under the arm when the actuating member is in its locked position, said tongue being disposed adjacent to and in the path of said actuating shoulder when the actuating member is in unlocked position for movement by the release member to bolt releasing position, means for moving the release member to bolt releasing position, a pivot pin on said flange, a locking arm pivotally supported by the pivot pin, said locking arm including a portion engageable with upper and lower stop portions on the flange to limit movement of the locking arm in each direction, a snap-over spring engaging the locking arm and the flange to hold the locking arm in either locking or in unlocking position, means including a shiftable member which has an upper finger engaging portion accessible from within the vehicle for moving the locking arm from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, the actuating member having a tongue at its free end, said tongue fitting in a slot on the locking arm for moving the locking arm to and from locked position, said actuating member being effective to free the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking arm is in unlocked position and said actuating member being ineffective to release the bolt holding and releasing means When it is moved while the locking arm is in locked position, said holding and releasing means including an ear directed towards said flange, a pivoted arm engaging said ear, remote control means within the vehicle for rocking the last mentioned arm to move the holding and releasing means to bolt releasing position, said actuating member including a shoulder facing towards the ratchet and engageable with a portion of the holding and releasing means which faces away from the ratchet when the actuating member is in non-bolt releasing position and operable when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to restore the actuating member to unlocked position, said shoulder being disposed so that it is out of the path of the holding and releasing means portion which faces away from the ratchet and is inoperable, when the actuating member is in locked position and is held in bolt releasing position, when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to move the actuating member to unlocked position.

18. In a door lock, a base having a flange arranged at right angles thereto, a rotatable bolt on the base, a ratchet rigid with the bolt, bolt holding and releasing means engaging the ratchet for holding the bolt in engagement with a strike, a pivoted actuating member movable in a path to and from a locked position, the actuating member also being movable in a bolt releasing path, said holding and releasing means including an arm which has a tongue thereon, said tongue being normally disposed out of the path of a shoulder on the actuating member when the actuating member is in its locked position, said tongue being disposed adjacent to and in the path of said actuating shoulder when the actuating member is in unlocked position for movement to bolt releasing position, means for moving the actuating member to bolt releasing position, a locking member movable on said flange, said locking member including a portion engageable with upper and lower stops to limit movement of the locking member in each direction, a snap-over spring engaging the locking member and the flange to hold the locking member in either looking or in unlocking position, means including a shiftable member which has an upper finger engaging portion accessible from within the vehicle for moving the locking member from locked to unlocked position and vice versa, the actuating member having a tongue fitting in a slot on the locking member for moving the locking member to and from locked position, said actuating member being effective to free the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking member is in unlocked position and said actuating member being ineffective to release the bolt holding and releasing means when it is moved while the locking member is in locked position, said holding and releasing means including an ear, a pivoted arm engaging said ear, remote control means within the vehicle for rocking the last mentioned arm to move the holding and releasing means to bolt releasing position, said actuating member including a shoulder facing towards the ratchet and engageable with a portion of the holding and releasing means which faces away from the ratchet when the actuating member is in non-bolt releasing position and operable when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike to restore the actuating member to unlocked position, said shoulder being disposed so that it is out of the path of the holding and releasing means portion which faces away from the ratchet and is inoperable, when the actuating member is in locked position and is held in bolt releasing position, when the bolt is turned by engagement with a strike, to move the actuating member to unlocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

